3D Printing a Sound Wave and More with Shapeways

Sound you can touch. The Vibe is a new app with that tagline and it captures the imagination to think you can touch a sound wave, especially if it is from your favorite song. But that’s part of Shapeways core mantra as I see it – if you can imagine it, you can probably design it and 3D print it. This is also why the folks at SXSW recognized them as one of the hottest companies to watch.

Elegant is the first word that comes to mind when I visit the Shapeways site. The home page showcases the work of professional, serious and fun-loving design types that share and sell in this rapidly growing community and marketplace. Shapeways is a 3D printing service where you can print your custom digital design in plastic, but more amazing, you can print in stainless steel, glass, ceramic, and even sandstone.

The company is adding fuel to the 3D Printing trend fire and proving that consumers want to design their own products and have them printed. It is also alluring to consumers who want to modify a product they really like and make it uniquely their own. Since its launch in 2008, the company states they have printed over one million 3D products. There are over 100,000 designers, makers, hackers in the Shapeways community and users can start their own shop or storefront with just a few clicks. If you are a budding designer, it is a marketplace that you’ll want to explore.

As mentioned above, one of the cool new products to hit my radar this week is The Vibe custom iPhone case that prints the sound waves of your favorite song into the case itself. In partnership with the Sound Cloud, Shapeways lets you print the custom designed case for about $20 (I believe that’s an introductory price, however). There is a fair amount of jewelry, gadgets (iPad feet or stands), and Minecraft models. There is even a tiny electric guitar (no sound) for Lego minifigures. Some designers make their models available for download.

You can visit a few of the designer/creators to get an idea of the detail and elegance that’s possible via Shapeways. Here are some that I admire:

Nervous System: designers who have quit their day job because of 3D printing and are featured in top stores, including the MOMA Design Store.

The fact that the company prints in more than just simple plastics is what really amazed me. I knew it was possible, but not affordable. Shapeways is making it affordable to create that one-of-a-kind item and to create a maker business opportunity for those who want to design, or design and produce to sell directly to consumers. I vote with SXSW to keep watching them. They are setting trends in their New York City headquarters.